The latest Mintel report [1] refers to a thriving black market in smuggled cigarettes, which they attribute to the Government’s high tobacco tax policy. Karl Brookes of ASH said: “Customs are tackling the problem. High tobacco taxes cause people to smoke less or even to quit. Criminal activity can not be allowed to undermine this good health policy.”

The drop in sales could also be due to smokers quitting, or cutting down on their smoking, for health reasons. The Mintel report also reveals that 62% of former smokers gave up for health reasons and that 46% of smokers regret starting. Moreover, the Office for National Statistics shows that 70% of smokers want to quit.

The ‘smuggling epidemic’ stories are following a familiar pattern. In Sweden and Canada [2], the problem of smuggling was continually ‘hyped’up. Both Governments cut tobacco taxes. Once the tobacco industry had reduced tobacco taxes, the amount of news coverage reduced but the smuggling continued. The tobacco industry could help solve the problem of smuggling by not supplying their products to known suppliers of tobacco smugglers [3].

Brookes added: “If people knowingly buy smuggled cigarettes or use the Internet to buy tobacco without paying the UK duty, then they are breaking the law. The risk of conviction is not worth the savings.”

Limited Company No: 998971 | Registered Charity No. 262067
This website has been archived for the UK Web Archive by the British Library. ASH has been certified as a producer of reliable health and social care information.ASH has been certified as a producer of reliable health and social care information

X

By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.